Recommendations for first Moab trip in the Gladiator?

[ORACLE Terry]

Hopefully if not this autumn, the next one. I’m hoping maybe a mid September to October.



What are the build specs on the Oracle JT though? I think it would help up gauge just how capable our trucks can be with similar lifts, tires, etc.

It's really a stock Rubicon with the Mopar factory 2 1/2" lift on 37"s. But very capable.

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[Jefe1018]

It's really a stock Rubicon with the Mopar factory 2 1/2" lift on 37"s. But very capable.

Don’t say “stock”! I’m in literally the same setup and tell all my friends I’m semi built up. ??

 

[ORACLE Terry]

Don’t say “stock”! I’m in literally the same setup and tell all my friends I’m semi built up. ??

As the host of the Jeep Life Podcast, we talk all the time how capable these vehicles are "stock." To the fact that 2 years ago, I took a stock JL Sport (with street tires) on all of these trails at EJS. It was a humbling and amazing experience relying on my skills behind the wheel, spotters and this little jeep to take me everywhere.

 

[THE SANDALORIAN]

Planning a trip out later this month. Planning to run Chicken Corners on day 1, Fin and Hell's on day 2, Top of the World on day 3. Really looking forward to it. Been a bucket list location for me for quite some time.

 

[MeiMei]

I did fins in a stock sport JKU. It was kind of scary in that Jeep TBH. I had to use 4Low in the beginning. It is listed as easy, but because it has pretty steep and short inclines, you absolutely need sliders. I thing the medium trails at Big Bend and Sonoma are less challenging. My tow hitch even scraped at fin, Moab area off road wonderland. The state parks are also incredible. I would like to go back in my Gladiator Rubi some day and try more challenging trails. It does get very crowded now, unfortunately.

 

[Billyj7175]

I just got back from a trip out there last week.
As mentioned several times before, a hitch skid is a really good idea.
It was already warming up in the afternoons as well. I really wish I would have brought some long sleeved fishing shirts. Plenty of sunscreen, water and a wide brimmed hat aren't a bad idea either.

I would run Fins & Things first, just to get accustomed to wheeling on slickrock. Hell's Revenge would be my #2, then hit whatever else. Those two are a must do in my book.

Having a front trail camera is a heck of a nice addition for the first-timer. I'm speaking from experience (or lack thereof) here, as there are a lot of ledges and crests that you simply cannot see which direction to go at the top.

This is my hitch skid after just running Hell's Revenge:

 

[Sw00per]

I just got back from a trip out there last week.
As mentioned several times before, a hitch skid is a really good idea.
It was already warming up in the afternoons as well. I really wish I would have brought some long sleeved fishing shirts. Plenty of sunscreen, water and a wide brimmed hat aren't a bad idea either.

I would run Fins & Things first, just to get accustomed to wheeling on slickrock. Hell's Revenge would be my #2, then hit whatever else. Those two are a must do in my book.

Having a front trail camera is a heck of a nice addition for the first-timer. I'm speaking from experience (or lack thereof) here, as there are a lot of ledges and crests that you simply cannot see which direction to go at the top.

This is my hitch skid after just running Hell's Revenge:

I just got one of the sliders today... ordered Thursday night and it arrived today.

 

[Andy29847]

movie/slideshow - Moab starts around 3:20.

 

[irish_love]

I'm making a solo trip out there June 8-10 on my way back to Montana after a work commitment in Flagstaff. I'm just hoping to find a group to roll with. For sure a bucket list for me. I posted to a Facebook group call "Moab Off Road info" and seem to be getting some good suggestion on how to find some people.

 

[Tank43]

I'm very excited for you and your trip. We were just out there 2 weeks ago. We drove 5000+ miles roundtrip from SC. We have a stock Gladi Rubicon with 33's etc... Me, wife, and 2 kids ages 11 and 13 had a blast. Ditto what others have said. The Funtreks guidebook https://www.amazon.com/guide-backroads-trails-FunTreks-Guidebooks/dp/1934838292/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1.
I also used my OnX Offroad app with some paper maps as backup. You'll lose cell coverage so download the offline maps. Works no problem. Here's some of my recs...

Day1: Potash Rd/Schafer Switchback/Canyon Lands NP/LongCanyon/DinoTrks/Petroglyfs. Start from the PA road entrance as the NP side has a very long line of RVs and minivans to get in. Plus if you go in this way there is no entrance fee for CL NP. You can stop at the roadside petroglyphs on the way in or the way back. Same with the dino tracks at poison spider trailhead. Go up Potash Rd to Schafer switchbacks. I first ran this route with my Dad in 96 and it always amazing. Stop at Thelma and Loise Point for lunch or snack and admire the views of the Colorado River 1 mile below. Continue the beautiful drive climbing the cliff to CN NP. After leaving CN NP head to Deadhorse SP and park to walk around the pathway for the views and photos. Totally worth the small entrance fee and your time. Kids will love it. From here you could take the main road back to Moab with the other tourists, but instead take a right onto Long Canyon Road and you will not be disappointed with the drive and end up near where you started. Look on OnX and FunTreks guide to plan (although I did this same route in 96 using topo maps before all this e-crap).

Day2: Arches NP. You need timed entry reservations for the front entrance now. Which is crazy. But, if you have a Jeep, you have a back way in. Again follow the FunTreks Guide for the back entrance. We actually had entrance passes and I have a military pass that gets me in for free, but we chose the alternate route for the challenge and to look for the dino tracks on the way. Most SUV's can probably make it to the park entrance, but right at the gate there is a massive bolder that requires 4WD+ high clearance. We scraped with the Glady Rubi going over but no big deal. Enjoy arches all day and into the night.

Day 3. Onion Creek+: Beautiful trail. You can run the first part and turn around. We chose to continue with a loop all the way into the mountains and back around. This was a great choice as it continued thru canyons and rocky terrain up into the alpine forest with snow and mud. When it turns back to pavement there is a beautiful overlook stopping point with dinosaur tracks. We swung by Hole In The Wall before returning to Moab.

Day 4. Fins N' Things: There are so many beautiful trails to do out here but I wanted to try some rock crawling in our stock Rubicon gladiator with 33's. As others have advised, I installed a hitch skid plate and I highly recommend it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCRND4S3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I also scraped left rock rail and skid plates. Other than the hitch plate install, all was stock and worked as it should. It was so much fun and the kids loved it. There were a number of SBS's and built 4x4's coming thru that made it look easy. But I was challenged in the stock Gladi Rubi which was fun. No vehicle damage. I never had to use lockers, just 4 Low.

That's what we had time to run while there. We stayed at the Best Western there in town and loved it. Hope you have a great visit. BLM camp sites are also a great alternative and about 40% vacancy one week after EJSF.

 

[Master_Cylinder]

I'm very excited for you and your trip. We were just out there 2 weeks ago. We drove 5000+ miles roundtrip from SC. We have a stock Gladi Rubicon with 33's etc... Me, wife, and 2 kids ages 11 and 13 had a blast. Ditto what others have said. The Funtreks guidebook https://www.amazon.com/guide-backroads-trails-FunTreks-Guidebooks/dp/1934838292/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1.
I also used my OnX Offroad app with some paper maps as backup. You'll lose cell coverage so download the offline maps. Works no problem. Here's some of my recs...

Day1: Potash Rd/Schafer Switchback/Canyon Lands NP/LongCanyon/DinoTrks/Petroglyfs. Start from the PA road entrance as the NP side has a very long line of RVs and minivans to get in. Plus if you go in this way there is no entrance fee for CL NP. You can stop at the roadside petroglyphs on the way in or the way back. Same with the dino tracks at poison spider trailhead. Go up Potash Rd to Schafer switchbacks. I first ran this route with my Dad in 96 and it always amazing. Stop at Thelma and Loise Point for lunch or snack and admire the views of the Colorado River 1 mile below. Continue the beautiful drive climbing the cliff to CN NP. After leaving CN NP head to Deadhorse SP and park to walk around the pathway for the views and photos. Totally worth the small entrance fee and your time. Kids will love it. From here you could take the main road back to Moab with the other tourists, but instead take a right onto Long Canyon Road and you will not be disappointed with the drive and end up near where you started. Look on OnX and FunTreks guide to plan (although I did this same route in 96 using topo maps before all this e-crap).

Day2: Arches NP. You need timed entry reservations for the front entrance now. Which is crazy. But, if you have a Jeep, you have a back way in. Again follow the FunTreks Guide for the back entrance. We actually had entrance passes and I have a military pass that gets me in for free, but we chose the alternate route for the challenge and to look for the dino tracks on the way. Most SUV's can probably make it to the park entrance, but right at the gate there is a massive bolder that requires 4WD+ high clearance. We scraped with the Glady Rubi going over but no big deal. Enjoy arches all day and into the night.

Day 3. Onion Creek+: Beautiful trail. You can run the first part and turn around. We chose to continue with a loop all the way into the mountains and back around. This was a great choice as it continued thru canyons and rocky terrain up into the alpine forest with snow and mud. When it turns back to pavement there is a beautiful overlook stopping point with dinosaur tracks. We swung by Hole In The Wall before returning to Moab.

Day 4. Fins N' Things: There are so many beautiful trails to do out here but I wanted to try some rock crawling in our stock Rubicon gladiator with 33's. As others have advised, I installed a hitch skid plate and I highly recommend it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCRND4S3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I also scraped left rock rail and skid plates. Other than the hitch plate install, all was stock and worked as it should. It was so much fun and the kids loved it. There were a number of SBS's and built 4x4's coming thru that made it look easy. But I was challenged in the stock Gladi Rubi which was fun. No vehicle damage. I never had to use lockers, just 4 Low.

That's what we had time to run while there. We stayed at the Best Western there in town and loved it. Hope you have a great visit. BLM camp sites are also a great alternative and about 40% vacancy one week after EJSF.

Printing this out to help with planning my first trip in a couple of years. Thanks!

 

[Tank43]

[

Printing this out to help with planning my first trip in a couple of years. Thanks!

Glad to help and I have no doubt it will be a great trip. Many choices of trails to run and i wish we had more time there to run Chicken Corners and the others. Tough choice on which ones to run with limited time.

 

[Sweetums]

Planning a trip out later this month. Planning to run Chicken Corners on day 1, Fin and Hell's on day 2, Top of the World on day 3. Really looking forward to it. Been a bucket list location for me for quite some time.

7 Mile Rim is a really scenic trail with a mix of slickrock, off-camber sections, sandy flats, steep climbs, and boulder washouts. The views are incredible but like most trails there's very little shade; be sure to take the short detour to Uranium Arch.

In addition to the Fun Trek book, I recommend the Latitude 40 maps "Moab East" and "Moab West" - these have been my go-to hard-copy maps for the area for about a decade. I recommend stopping either at the Arches visitor center or the local bookstore in town to pick them up (it helps the national park and the locals) - between these two maps and the Fun Treks book, you will be entertained for a very long time.

The Latitude 40 maps have highlighted off road routes, are very detailed, and are printed on a waterproof and tear-resistant polymer. They are worth a few bucks, trust me.

 

[fade2black]

We did the trail out to tower arch in Arches NP. It was fun and slightly technical. We also did the Schafer/Potash trail from Island in the Sky back to Moab through Canyonlands and had a great time. The switchbacks down into the canyon were "exhilarating" according to the wife. lol We rented a Mojave for this trip through Turo and fell in love with it. 6 weeks later we had traded in our Wrangler and had a '22 Mojave in our garage.

 

[Sw00per]

We did the trail out to tower arch in Arches NP. It was fun and slightly technical. We also did the Schafer/Potash trail from Island in the Sky back to Moab through Canyonlands and had a great time. The switchbacks down into the canyon were "exhilarating" according to the wife. lol We rented a Mojave for this trip through Turo and fell in love with it. 6 weeks later we had traded in our Wrangler and had a '22 Mojave in our garage.

Great photos! I am trying to get there in June for another father & son road trip. This thread has given me a few trail ideas and places to see\stay.

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